Pesticides, casino, Schoenborn, election

Pesticides lower IQ
Reacting to three new independent studies that find children exposed to high pesticide levels in the womb have lower average IQs than other kids, Bruce Lanphear says society has a big problem. “This can sharply increase the number of kids needing remedial education,” explains the SFU professor of children’s environmental health. Lanphear wasn’t involved in these new studies but he has done numerous others on how environmental toxicants such as lead and tobacco affect children’s intellectual, behavioural and physical development. Lanphear can further explain his concern that all recent studies point to a seven-point IQ drop. “Each IQ-point drop will add up to extra costs in lost earnings over an individual’s lifetime,” he says.

Casino expansion veto
Peter Williams has some thoughts on whether Vancouver city council’s rejection of a mega-casino at B.C. Place signals a trend that will be adopted by other municipalities when it comes to casino expansion. Williams, director of SFU’s Centre for Tourism Policy and Research, is a professional planner and geographer whose work focuses on policy, planning and management issues related to tourism development.

Schoenborn hearing today
SFU criminologist and restorative justice expert Brenda Morrison is available to comment on the outcome of today’s British Columbia Review Board’s re-assessment of its decision to grant Allan Schoenborn community passes in Coquitlam. Morrison says the controversy over Schoenborn’s fate underscores why the justice system needs to be more attentive to victims’ rights.

Election campaign rounds final week
Canadians go to the polls a week from Monday. How will the final week of campaigning play out? SFU experts can provide insight into everything from personalities and polls to party politics. Check our list at http://tinyurl.com/3s3azpj